Cooler Weather? Get Off-Road!
- Kyle Lippiatt
- Oct 18, 2024
- 4 min read
Summer is on its way out, and with the changing seasons, it's the perfect time to get off-road! For one, you won't have to deal with the biting wind on the road that the change of seasons brings, and two, you get an up-close view of nature's beauty. Below, we will offer some advice on bike selection, tire selection, the best gear for your next adventure, and some of our favorite routes!
Bike Selection
We hear quite often, "I'm looking for a gravel bike," or "A friend told me I should look into getting a gravel bike." Whether you're looking to ride lightly crushed limestone paths, fire roads and nature trails, go on an epic bikepacking adventure, or take on some of the gnarliest gravel events the United States has to offer, there's an option for you!
Gravel curious but don't want to go all-in just yet? The entry level ALR options are the perfect choice at getting you a great off-road capable rig, without breaking the bank. Both of these bikes are alloy frames with the key difference being the ALR 3 coming equipped with a Shimano Sora 2x9 drivetrain, while the ALR 4 comes with a SRAM Apex 1x11 drivetrain (more on drivetrain differences here).
The last in Trek's alloy lineup, these two bikes are equipped with the same drivetrains as Trek's higher level carbon bikes, but still at a much lower entry point for the wallet. The ALR 5 is equipped with a SRAM Apex 1x12 drivetrain, while the ALR 5 AXS comes out of the bike with the SRAM Apex 12 Speed AXS wireless drivetrain (that's a wordy way to say electronic shifting) and a dropper post!
This is the beginning of Trek's carbon fiber models. Some benefits of a carbon fiber frame for off-road riding include:
Softer ride as carbon absorbs reverberations better from whatever path/road/trail you're riding on.
Integrated downtube storage container! You don't need to worry about having a big ol' saddle bag as there's already a door with a sleeve built in to the bike for flat repair items.
Wider tire clearance. Most companies spec their carbon level bikes with a wider fork and rear triangle to accommodate for much wider tires than their aluminum frame counterparts (more on tire selection and why that matters here).
Patented comfort integration features like Trek's IsoSpeed system (where the top tube and seat tube have an elastomer between them allowing for frame flex) allow for an even softer ride over varied terrain.
The Gen 3 models of the Checkpoint all come with various levels of SRAM's AXS (12 speed wireless) drivetrain, while the Gen 2 models have a mix of SRAM AXS and Shimano GRX mechanical (trusty cables and housing). The Checkpoint series also allows for installation of a dropper seatpost (big fan of that over here) and a suspension fork!
The ultimate off-road racing machine, the Checkmate is designed with aerodynamic tubing throughout the frame and a geometry meant to get the rider a little lower and a little longer. Ridden by the professionals of Trek's Driftless program, this bike has the need...for...speed. If you're looking to podium some gravel races in the upcoming season or want the sleekest bike that will make all your local riding buddies "ooh" and "ahh" when you pull up, Checkmate is for you.
Tire Selection
There are TONS of tires on the market. Slick, knobby, semi-slick, file tread, mud, wide, narrow, TPI.....it's enough to make you start to pull your hair out! Around these parts, a good all-around with a file tread with decent knobs on the sidewalls will work wonders, but you may want to mix it up a bit if you travel, or just to play around with what you like best.
Narrow vs. Wide
It all really depends on what your frame can handle, but over here we prefer the widest your bike will allow. Reason being - it's just more comfortable! You can run your tires at a lower pressure, ensuring a softer ride and increased traction wherever you go.
TPI
"Threads per inch." The lower the number, the less cotton threading is in your tire. The higher the number, the more threading in your tire. This translates to a few things - tires with a higher TPI are more supple and are faster rolling because of it. But tires with a low TPI are harder, and therefore harder to puncture. Around here, a high TPI tire will fare just fine, but if you go on a lot of adventures, something with a lower TPI may suit you better just due to the unknown nature of what you'll encounter.
Two Tires to Try
Two great tires, and both tested over here on our end, are the Bontrager Girona and the Bontrager Betasso. The Girona has a file tread center (slick stripe) with knobs on the side for speed on hard packed and less aggressive surfaces but cornering confidence when you need it. The Betasso has a great tread to help you tackle chunkier or loose gravel with confidence.
Gear
One of the best parts of going off-road (besides not having to deal with cars) is the adventure and sense of exploration it brings. You'll discover parts of where you live, or travel to frequently, that you never knew existed! There's also a great grounding feeling and oneness with nature, in our opinion. BUT if you don't prepare properly, you can find yourself running out of food, supplies, or not being able to handle a mechanical issue out in the wilderness. Most gravel bikes from all major manufacturers come with plenty of mounting options for a large variety of bags and water bottle cages so you'll never run out of snackies but also not have to sacrifice space for life saving items like inner tubes, tire plugs, chain links, and so on.
Top tube bags provide you with an easy to reach snack solution, frame bags can house a lot of extra materials (or layers if you need to stash some clothing on the go) while handlebar bags and enlarged saddle bags can handle a multitude of extra clothes, shoes, or supplies.
Routes
Below are a few gravel routes in our area that we've come to enjoy, and we hope you will too!
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